//------------------------------// // Belligerants // Story: Into That Wild Blue Yonder // by CptBrony //------------------------------// Colm and the young man sat stiff-backed and silent as the griffons all around them rowdily chattered and joked about whatever griffons joke about. There was so much noise that neither Colm nor the young man could make anything out. Nikita sat between them, stone-faced. She stared toward her food with only the occasional glance toward the rest of the room. There appeared to be several hot-blooded griffon males in the room, all staring at her, and it made the trio uncomfortable. It was clear what their intentions were. “Princess, I don’t think this room is safe,” Colm said. “I vote we get out.” “Seconded,” the young man said. He could just hear Colm as the stallion leaned to the princess. “Can’t,” Nikita said. “My father will have our tails.” “I don’t have a tail,” the young man said. “Not in the back,” Nikita said. The young man swallowed his words immediately and sat quietly. “What is this dinner even for?” Colm asked. “It’s where dignitaries from kingdoms seeking ties make bonds,” Nikita explained. “They all brought their sons to court me. Griffon kingdoms have agreements that royal marriages are to be competed for and not solely handed out exclusively.” “So that prince guy is here?” the young man asked. “That one,” Nikita said, casting her eyes toward a griffon prince to the left on the other side of the table. He was staring intently at her. The prince had paint markings all over his body, and on what little, strange clothing he wore, there were a dozen medals and decorations. He held himself with confidence, chest puffed out, but Nikita was less than impressed. “Looks like a dou-“ “He’s a jerk,” Nikita interrupted the young man. “Yeah,” the young man said. “What do ya think the odds are that we’ll see a fight tonight?” Colm asked jokingly. “It isn’t a complete courtier dinner until at least two fights break out,” Nikita said. “Ugh,” Colm said. Nikita gave him a look. “I was jokin.” “Well, don’t joke tonight,” Nikita said. “I doubt they’ll appreciate it.” “When does the food come?” the young man asked. “Now,” Nikita said. The young man looked to each entrance to the room until he saw the servers coming in. The smell was divine; it smelled like… roast beef, probably seasoned, and a dozen other fabulous cuts of meat that would make any non-vegetarian’s mouth water. Meanwhile, Colm had to hold back his gag reflex while he waited for pony food to come out. No one paid him any mind, sadly, so he had to suffer in silence. When the food was put down, the young man instantly dug in. He hadn’t had meat in a while, travelling with a pony and all. It was such a refreshing change of pace. A she jumped into the food, griffons around the table slowly started to look at him with curiosity. The young man finished his first piece of beef, belched, and sat back. He hadn’t realized he was the only one eating and everyone around was watching him. When he looked up from his belly, he blinked twice before realizing what was happening. “Hi,” he said simply. “So, you have a human now,” some random dignitary said. “I do,” King Yakesh said. “Quite a warrior, too. Defeated the Blooded Tong on his own.” “Impressive,” another said. “But that was just another pony gang. I doubt he could take any griffon in combat.” The young man took offense to that and was about to stand up, but Nikita put her claw out to stop him. He reluctantly obliged and sat back into his chair. “You think you’re fighters are better than mine?” Nikita said. The other griffon nodded. “Who is your greatest warrior?” she asked. The young man jerked his head to look at her, surprised. “My son, of course,” the griffon said, looking to his son. “If he is to be leader someday, he must be the greatest warrior.” “Princess, I see where this is going…” the young man said. “Do you?” Nikita replied. “Well, I propose the idea that your son is NOT the greatest warrior in this room. In fact, I propose that he isn’t even the best Griffon warrior in this room.” “Wanna bet?” the son said, clearly agitated and looking at the young man. “Calm down,” the father said. “This will be decided in the future. For now, discussions must be had amongst the leadership.” “Yes, father,” the son said. He looked at the young man with fiery hatred, which angered the young man in return, as they didn’t even know each other. “Princess, are you trying to start a fight?” the young man asked quietly. “When a griffon loses a fight, the shame is too much to bear, and he must leave the room, lest he be abused by the strong,” Nikita explained. “That’s a little messed up,” the young man said. “This is my culture,” Nikita retorted. “Your culture is a little messed up,” the young man said. “So you shall be if you cannot handle it,” Nikita replied. The dinner went on as it was meant to, with ruling parties talking strategy and trade and all the like. The princes and non-essentials were staring at the young man and Colm, though, making them uneasy. Some of them seemed to be itching for a fight, though not all with the princess’s guards. There was a lot of open tension in the room. The young man had his guard up and mentally prepared himself for a fight. On the other side of Nikita, Colm was about ready to tackle the princess out of harm’s way in case a fight did break out. Good thing, too; a fight was just about to start up. “I cannot remain quiet any longer!” one griffon prince said. “Why is there a PONY here?!” Before anyone could answer, the young man stood up. “Because he and I work together,” the young man said. “If you have a problem with that-“ “Human!” Yakesh shouted. “Enough!” The young man glared at the king for a moment, then sat back down, maintaining his gaze. The king readily returned it, noting that he would have to talk to this human later. “There is a pony because he worked with the human and was with him while travelling,” Yakesh said. “He is my invited guest.” “It’s a disgrace!” the griffon said. “To be in the presence of one so weak.” “Ya wanna eat those words, boy?” Colm said. “I’ll smack ya right up.” “I’d like to see you try,” the griffon said. “How about,” the young man began, standing up. “Instead of being savage brutes and trying to establish pointless individual physical prowess; since armies win wars; we calm the Hell down, and leave our egos at the door?” the young man said. “Or is that concept to complicated for your small mind?” “That’s it!” the griffon prince said. “Come face me!” “Colm, you or me?” the young man asked. “I want him,” Colm said. “So then I’ll take him,” the young man said. “What?” Colm said, confused. “No, I’ll take him.” “Nope,” the young man said. “You can have the leftovers.” “I don’t do sloppy seconds,” Colm said. “By the time I’m done, he’ll be sloppy thirds,” the young man said. “ENOUGH!” the griffon said. “Alright,” the young man said. The griffon leapt over the table and flew at the young man. In response, the young man flipped his plate up at the griffon and sent hot food into his face, discombobulating him and throwing his flight pattern off. The young man dodged to the side and let the griffon crash into the floor and then wall behind, then, after taking a bite of some bread, turned to face him. He flipped the piece of bread in his hand. “Not very smart,” he said. The griffon stood up, dazed from smacking his head into a wall, then shook himself out of it and lunged. The young man saw a high talon slash coming and performed a simple high block, stopping the attack. He followed it with a knee strike to the gut, then flipped the griffon around and put him in a sleeper hold until he stopped squirming too much. He then dropped him to the floor. The entire room was silent, staring at the young man. He put his arms out to the side as if to hug someone and smiled. “Who’s next?” he asked. When no one volunteered, he took his seat. “I’ll be waiting.” Just as Nikita predicted, the griffon prince was picked up by his father and carried off back home. The other griffons in the room were not shy in displaying their displeasure with being in the same room as them after such a humiliating defeat, “encouraging” them to leave the entire time. “That was something,” Nikita said. “Please, don’t pick more fights,” the young man said. “I didn’t get mah turn with the racist arses,” Colm said. “I wouldn’t mind.” “Yeah, well, they’ll be gunnin’ for me now, so please, for my sake, don’t,” the young man pleaded. “Very well,” Nikita said. “At least I know you were telling the truth now.” “About?” the young man asked. “I wasn’t sure you could truly have beaten the griffon Yafid,” Nikita said. “I believe I can now say I was wrong.” “Thanks for that vote of confidence,” the young man said. “You are welcome,” Nikita said, not catching the sarcasm. The rest of the dinner was much quieter, with the rulership talking politics but always keeping an eye on the young man. He didn’t like how they were staring his way, but until Nikita left the dinner, he would have to deal with it. She seemed intent now on displaying her personal security force, as if to challenge the young griffons in the room to even try courting her. She could just tell them they had to defeat her guards and she was fine. Suddenly, as the main course was done and desserts were coming out, Nikita stood up and brushed herself off. “I’m retiring,” she said. “What?” Colm said. “Yeah, hold up, I at least want dessert,” the young man said. Nikita didn’t listen and started walking out. “Ugh,” he young man said. He looked to a server. “You. Deliver three of those-“ he looked to the dessert trays coming in- “cakes, to the princess’s room.” “Umm, okay,” the server said. The young man and Colm followed the princess out of the room. “What the hay was that whole thing about?” Colm asked. “Making it clear who decides whom I shall marry,” Nikita said. “Your father?” the young man asked. Nikita didn’t answer. “Well, whatever. I told the server to deliver three cakes to us.” “Sweet!” Colm said, his mood lightened ever so slightly. The young man looked at Nikita. There was something off about her. She didn’t enjoy any of the attention she was getting. She even seemed to hate the griffons she was potentially going with. The young man couldn’t blame her, but if she was a part of this culture, why was she so against it? There was more to that dinner than Nikita was letting on, and the young man was determined to figure it out. Odds were good that Colm saw it too, so together, they might be able to read this princess. Otherwise, they could end up in more trouble than they wanted by the end of this whole endeavor.